After the service one Sunday I joined in a Bible study for young people. One question being discussed was "What will you do if you meet a believer in need?" Almost everyone stated that they would pray for the Christian, but one sister said, "I don't know how to help someone in trouble." It surprised me.
How do you really live out love in the body of Christ? Here are three things that may help you.
1.Be conscious that loving one another is the Lord's commandment.
A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another. (John 13:34-35)
Be conscious that loving brothers and sisters has nothing to do with our hobbies, emotions, or characters. It is because of the Lord's commandment and we should spare no effort to obey.
2. Love with action.
If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth. (1 John 3:17-18)
We often see some seemingly godly Christians attending a lot of services and gatherings in the church and speaking holy and eloquent words, but instead of helping people in pain they simply spout religious platitudes. Real love isn't a rebuke; instead, it is showsn in action with truth and love.
3.Love others from the heart.
I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm-neither hot nor cold-I am about to spit you out of my mouth. (Revelation 3:15-16)
Though you can pretend to love believers with action, the hardest part is to love from the heart. God commands us to love one another as He has loved us.
Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. (1 John 4:20)
This shows that the first step to love God lies in loving your brother and sister. But how to love them?
"To love him with all your heart, with all your understanding and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices." (Mark 12:33)
Love your neighbor as yourself. It's quite simple: put yourself in the shoes of other people. Everybody loves themselves. Since everyone has the ability to love themself, they are able to love others.
When people need material support, they expect practical help; when feeling pain, they desire warm comfort; when sick, they hope that a person can take care of them; when confused about life, they look forward to a useful suggestion. When other people are under one of these circumstances, be the one to give them hope.
- Translated by Karen Luo
